The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, secured the conviction and sentence of two internet fraudsters before Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar.
The Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said the convicts pleaded guilty to two-count separate charges preferred against them by the commission.
He said one of the charges read: “That you, IKE EUSTA-PRINCE EZIOMUME ‘M’, sometime between 2024 and 2026 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did take possession and control of $200 (Two Hundred United States Dollars) and €260 (Two Hundred and Sixty Euros), intentionally knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: obtaining money by false pretence, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Another charge reads: “That you, VICTOR PIUS NNAEGBO ‘M’, sometime between 2024 and 2026 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did take possession and control of €530 (Five Hundred and Thirty Euros), intentionally knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: obtaining money by false pretence, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
In view of their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, Khamis Mahmud, reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict and sentence them in accordance with the provisions of the law. Defence counsel, Douglas Besong, did not object but prayed the court to be lenient in sentencing the defendants.
After listening to both counsel, Justice Oghoghorie convicted and sentenced Ike Eusta-Prince Eziomume to a two-year jail term, with an option of a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), and ordered him to restitute $200 (Two Hundred USD) and €260 (Two Hundred and Sixty Euros) to his victims.
Victor Pius Nnaegbo was sentenced to a two-year jail term, with an option of a N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) fine, and ordered to restitute the sum of €530 (Five Hundred and Thirty Euros) to his victim.
They both forfeited the gadgets used in committing the crimes.
The convicts were arrested on May 5 and 12, 2026, in the Umuahia and Aba areas of Abia State. They were subsequently charged to court and convicted.